What are the symptoms of low blood pressure? What is good to eat when you have low blood pressure?

In life, many people know more about high blood pressure because it is very common, but they don’t know much about low blood pressure. So what are the symptoms of low blood pressure? What should people with low blood pressure eat?

Symptoms of low blood pressure

(1) Fatigue and weakness: Especially in the morning, patients often feel listless, with sore limbs and weakness. The symptoms may improve after a nap or rest, but they feel weak again in the afternoon or evening. This feeling of fatigue is disproportionate to the physical energy consumed by the patient's actual work or activities. In other words, this fatigue is not entirely caused by excessive fatigue. This fatigue may be caused by excessive and uncoordinated muscle contractions due to dysfunction of the nervous system, resulting in inappropriate muscle strength consumption.

(2) Headache and dizziness: In patients with hypotension, headache may be the only complaint. Headache is often more obvious after strenuous mental or physical activities. The nature and severity of headache vary. It is often manifested as dull pain in the temporoparietal or suboccipital area. It may also be severe throbbing pain or numbness. The severity of dizziness varies. Mild cases may cause black eyes and dizziness. Severe cases may cause loss of consciousness or even fainting. It is most likely to occur when the patient suddenly changes position, especially when standing up suddenly from a squatting position. In addition, it is also easy to occur under static but overloaded working conditions. Headache and dizziness may be related to insufficient cerebral perfusion caused by low blood pressure.

(3) Pain or discomfort in the precordial area: Hypotension patients may experience pain and discomfort in the precordial area, which may occur not only during physical or mental work, but also when they are at rest, and may even cause angina-like attacks. This is especially common in patients over 40 years old. This situation is not only seen in patients with hypotension and coronary heart disease, but may also be due to low blood pressure itself leading to insufficient coronary blood supply, causing myocardial hypoxia and ischemia, resulting in the above symptoms.

(4) Neurological dysfunction: It can manifest as mental depression, memory loss, sleep disorders and insomnia. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction can manifest as excessive sweating, pale skin or mild cyanosis, alternating hot and cold sensations, occasional crawling sensations, numbness in the hands and feet, etc.

(5) Phenomenon of endocrine dysfunction: mainly manifested as a deficiency of substances such as adrenaline and norepinephrine. Some patients may experience low blood sugar and decreased sexual function.

(6) Others: Loss of appetite, stomach discomfort, and indigestion are also symptoms of low blood pressure.

What to eat for people with low blood pressure

Dietary principles for preventing and treating hypotension

1. For those with weak constitution, they should strengthen their nutrition, eat both meat and vegetables, and reasonably match their diet to ensure that they take in a full range of nutrients so that their constitution can gradually change from being weak to being strong.

2. Those with hypotension caused by drugs can stop taking the drugs or adjust the dosage. For example, if the blood pressure of hypertensive patients drops too quickly after taking antihypertensive drugs and they feel uncomfortable, they should adjust the medication method and dosage under the guidance of a doctor or switch to mild antihypertensive drugs as needed. If necessary, antihypertensive drugs can be stopped.

3. Do not eat too much at each meal, because overeating will reduce the blood flowing back to the heart.

4. Elderly people with low blood pressure can drink some light salt water every morning. More water entering the blood can increase blood volume, thereby increasing blood pressure.

5. Drink tea in moderation because the caffeine in tea can stimulate the respiratory center and cardiovascular system.